The Bombay High Court on Monday took on record a report submitted by an architect appointed by it to inspect and ascertain the damage caused to the building and printing press at Ambedkar Bhavan at Dadar in north-central Mumbai, during the demolition carried by the People’s Improvement Trust (TPIT) in June this year.
Hearing pleas by TPIT which runs Ambedkar Bhavan, and Prakash Ambedkar, who manages the printing press, Justice SJ Kathawala perused the report submitted by architect Shashi Prabhu on August 5 and ordered that the copies of the report be made available to the contesting parties.
While posting the matter for next hearing on August 18, the judge restrained all the parties concerned from entering the Ambedkar Bhavan premises, till then.
Following a notice served by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), TPIT had on June 25 demolished a substantial portion of the of the Ambedkar Bhavan which was in a “dilapidated and dangerous condition”.
At the previous hearing, Prakash and his brothers Prakash, Anandraj, and Bhim Rao, all grandsons of Dr Ambedkar had told the court the demolition carried out by the trustees had caused major damage to their printing press and their offices on the ground floor.
Following Prakash’s suggestion, the High Court had appointed architect Prabhu to inspect the damage caused the building and printing press at Ambedkar Bhavan. The court had also asked Prabhu to submit details of the inventory lying at the ‘Budh Bhushan’ printing press.
Prakash had told the high court that periodicals and some magazines were being printed at the press. His counsel urged the court that his client be allowed to visit the premises to ascertain the damage caused to the press, a plea that the judge kept on hold till August 18.
At the earlier hearing, the High Court had asked TPIT and Prakash Ambedkar to redevelop the property jointly. However, Prakash’s counsel told the court that his client was not agreeable to the High Court’s suggestion. The Counsel said that Prakash was of the view that Ambedkar Bhavan be preserved because of its emotional value as late B R Ambedkar had got it built.
The High Court is hearing TPIT’s plea challenging the rebuilding of the demolished structure through ‘shramdaan’ (voluntary contribution of labour) as proposed by Prakash Ambhedkar.
On July 29, the high court had restrained people from entering the Ambedkar Bhavan for either rebuilding or restoring the damaged structure.
On its part, TPIT had told the High Court that there were three structures in the Ambedkar Bhavan which was demolished on June. Prakash and his brother Anandraj were occupying one of the structures in the building.
The Trust had informed the High Court that Prakash and Anandraj would be allowed to occupy the proposed 17-storey redeveloped structure in the future.